Having an interest in the mid-19th century fur trade and Native America history of that time I was thrilled to learn about Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site and that the park was hosting the 30th annual Rendezvous while we were in the vicinity. Fur trade fair, Indian crafts, and historic demonstrations, first person interpretation, we just had to go see this four day special event. Fort Union Trading Post was built by the American Fur Company in 1828 and is reputed to be the most important fur trading post on the Upper Missouri River. It was in business f or almost forty years. The purpose of the Fort was to trade with the Native Americans tribes, mostly Assiniboine people and was actually requested by them to establish a trading post in their territory. As one of the interpreters said to me while I was in the trading room, “what a peaceful time in American history.” The trading post employed about 100 people in various jobs, many requiring multi lingual skills, which reflects upon how busy and successful it was. Even John James Audubon, Sitting Bull, and Jim Bridger visited this post. During this side trip we also visited Fort Buford State Historic Site, the military post that Sitting Bull surrendered at in 1881, and the Masonic Historic Site of North Dakota’s first Lodge. From the state’s Historical Society website: Located one-half mile east of Fort Buford, the Missouri-Yellowstone Confluence Interpretive Center tells the story of the confluence of these two mighty rivers, as well as provides the same magnificent view that Lewis and Clark Expedition members enjoyed when they visited in 1805 and 1806. The rotunda area includes three large murals featuring quotes from the Lewis and Clark Journals, and paintings of the Missouri River landscape by Colonel Philippe Régis de Trobriand, commanding officer of Fort Stevenson near present-day Garrison, N.D. in the late 1860s.

As we were driving west across the open lands of the North Dakota Prairie, we were amazed at the petroleum development drilling and pumping sites we saw. This is a boom area that is evident by the numbers of trucks, drill rigs, and temporary work camps everywhere. What’s wrong with our truck? It’s not making power much headway, the diesel fuel consumption is down to 8 mpg. When I opened the truck door at the next fuel stop I learned why very quickly, we were driving into a 40mph head wind. But finally the terrain dramatically changed as we emerged into the Badlands of North Dakota and out of the winds blowing across the high prairie. “The Bad Lands grade all the way…to those that are so fantastically broken in form and so bizarre in color as to seem hardly properly to this earth.” Theodore Roosevelt The park is comprised of three units and contains 70,416 acres: The North Unit, the South Unit, and Elkhorn Ranch. We visited both the South and North Units. South Unit: Shortly after clearing the Ranger Station at the town of Medora, on our way to the Cottonwood campground along the banks of the Little Missouri River we saw our first bison of the trip, the first of many during our two day visit to the South unit. Bison were reintroduced to the park in 1956 and Elk in 1985. We were anxious to see the sights and drive the 36 – mile scenic loop drive across the park, so we made camp as quickly as we could. A short drive from the campground we came to Prairie Dog Town inhabited by black-tailed prairie dogs, one of the five sub species of these critters. They were just fun to watch, but we pushed on and thoroughly enjoyed the drive and short hikes we made at Buck Hill, Ridgeline and Wind Canyon Trails. Typical of many favored parks across the country, just outside the gate is the tourist town of Medora, a small western town with a rich history. The town was founded by a French nobleman, Marquis de Mores who had married the daughter of a wealthy New York City banker. But 19 years before that General Alfred Sully fought Sioux Native Americans who had hunted the area for generations. And Lieutenant Colonel George Custer passed through on his way west to the little Bighorn. Most notable tourist to the area of course was Theodore Roosevelt who arrived in 1883 to hunt buffalo which had mostly vanished by then. He claimed to have fallen in love with the area and invested in cattle ranching. He called his years in the Badlands “the romance of my life,” and credited his Dakota experiences with enabling him to become president. We all know that many parks across the country have their beginning with the work of the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930’s and early 1940’s. Here too, the CCC has left its mark by building roads, and other structures in Theodore Roosevelt National Park and nearby Chateau de Mores State Park.. North Unit: After two days enjoying the South Unit of the Park and the town of Medora we drove about 82 miles that day to reach the North Unit campground and learn that a little more than half of the park’s 14 mile Scenic Drive was closed because the road was washed out. A real-time example of geology in action, erosion has been working its magic here for eons. The geological features of the North Unit appeared to be more extreme, more rugged. One of the coolest critters we encountered was a Bull snake near the Cannonball Concretions formation not far from the campground, and of course several large bison.

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As we travel our world visiting parks, meeting others in our profession and introducing them to the benefits of the Park Law Enforcement Association. We'll share adventures by way of this blog.. Please check back from time to time to see what we have been up to.. Oh, and plesae leave a comment so I know someone is enjoying these....